Stefano Pioli's brief and unhappy spell as Al Nassr manager has come to an end after the Saudi Pro League club confirmed his departure on Wednesday.
Pioli, 59, is expected to take over at Serie A side Fiorentina, who he spent six seasons with as a player in the early 1990s and previously managed between 2017-19.
The Italian enjoyed a strong first few months in charge of Nassr after taking over in September 2024, but results deteriorated as the season progressed.
Pioli won the Serie A title as boss of AC Milan before moving to Saudi Arabia. He was also named Serie A coach of the year in 2022.
“Al Nassr Club Company informs that Mr Pioli and his staff are no more the acting coaching staff of the first team. We would like to thank Mr Pioli and his staff for their dedicated work during the past season,” the club said in a statement posted to their social media channels.
Nassr finished the 2024/25 season without silverware, eventually trailing home third in the SPL and missing out on Asian Champions League (ACL) qualification – 13 points adrift of champions Al Ittihad and five behind their city rivals Al Hilal, who were second.
They were also upset by Al Taawoun in the last 16 of the King's Cup and lost the Super Cup final 4-1 to Hilal.
Worse was to come as they suffered a humiliating exit in the semi-finals of last season's ACL, dumped out by Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah in a match they had been heavily favoured to win.
Among the early names mentioned as a potential successor to Pioli is his compatriot Luciano Spalletti, who is available having left the Italian national team job earlier this month.
Belgian Marc Brys, currently in charge of Cameroon, has also been mentioned, while social media speculation even linked the club with a controversial move for the former Hilal coach Jorge Jesus.
Whoever takes over will seek immediate assurances over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Pro League's top scorer.
Ronaldo, 40, has been the face of Saudi Arabian football since arriving in Riyadh in January 2023, but speculation over his future intensified after a cryptic social media message following Nassr’s final match of the season against Al Fateh.
“This chapter is over. The story? Still being written,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wrote, fuelling rumours he could move on.
The striker appeared to contradict that message in the aftermath of Portugal's Nations League victory over Spain when he hinted he would be extending his contract.
However, with less than a week remaining on his current deal, an extension is yet to be announced.
Nassr's sporting director Fernando Hierro said that the club was working hard to thrash out fresh terms.
“Ronaldo’s contract runs until June 30. We’re working to renew it so he can continue with us,” Hierro told reporters earlier this month.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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SPEC%20SHEET
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil